Protection scheme and method for deployment of artificial lift devices in a wellbore

Abstract

A protection system for an artificial lift device including but not limited to electrical submersible pump (ESP) and an electrical submersible progressing cavity pup (ESPCP). The artificial lift device is suspended on a tubing string into a wellbore where the artificial lift device contacts well fluids. The artificial lift device is provided with a barrier such as an intake barrier or output barrier that deters an ingress of well fluids into the artificial lift device. As a result, the artificial lift device may remain idle and submerged within well fluids for an extended period of time without experiencing degradation of the artificial lift device internals. The intake barrier may include a plug, burst disk, dissolvable material, a selectively openable barrier such as a sleeve or a spring biased member or other member that is capable of providing a suitable barrier. The barrier may be removed once the artificial lift device is ready for operation. The artificial lift device may be filled with a protective fluid. An optional pressure sensor may be provided that is in communication with the interior of the backup unit for communicating with a compressor that may be activated to maintain a positive pressure within the artificial lift device to prevent well fluids from entering the unit. The protection system of the invention is desirable for protecting an idle artificial lift device, including when the artificial lift device is a backup unit in a multi-artificial lift device deployment.

1. A well comprising:
 a wellbore; 
 an artificial lift assembly deployed on a tubing string in said wellbore, said artificial lift assembly comprising a first artificial lift device and a second artificial lift device; 
 said second artificial lift device comprising: 
 a pump; 
 an intake through which fluid is supplied to said pump; 
 a motor for driving said pump; and 
 a barrier that deters an ingress of well fluids into said second artificial lift device for preventing corrosion, scaling or plugging of said second artificial lift device; wherein 
 said barrier is an intake barrier located proximate said intake. 
 
   
   
     2. A well according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said intake barrier is selected from a group consisting of a plug, a burst disk, a soluble material, a selectively openable member, and a member biased in sealing engagement with said intake. 
 
   
   
     3. The well according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a hydraulic communication line in communication with an interior of said second artificial lift device. 
 
   
   
     4. The well according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a junction in fluid communication with said tubing string; 
 said first artificial lift device in communication with said junction; and 
 wherein said second artificial lift device is a backup unit in communication with said junction. 
 
   
   
     5. The well according to  claim 4  wherein:
 said barrier is an output barrier in said junction. 
 
   
   
     6. The well according to  claim 4  wherein:
 said junction is a Y-Tool. 
 
   
   
     7. The well according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said second artificial lift device is positioned in-line with said first artificial lift device; and further comprising: 
 a shroud surrounding at least one of said second artificial lift device and said first artificial lift device. 
 
   
   
     8. An artificial lift assembly comprising:
 a first artificial lift device affixed to a tubing string; 
 a second artificial lift device in communication with said tubing string for simultaneous deployment with said first artificial lift device, said second artificial lift device comprising: 
 a pump; 
 an intake through which fluid is supplied to said pump; 
 a motor for driving said pump; and 
 a barrier that deters an ingress of well fluids into said second artificial lift device; wherein 
 said barrier is an intake barrier located proximate said intake. 
 
   
   
     9. The artificial lift assembly according to  claim 8  wherein:
 said intake barrier is selected from a group consisting of a plug, a burst disk, a soluble material, a selectively openable member, and a member biased in sealing engagement with said intake. 
 
   
   
     10. The artificial lift device according to  claim 8  further comprising:
 a pressure sensor in communication with said second artificial lift device; and 
 a pressure producing device in fluid communication with said second artificial lift device for pressurizing an inside of said second artificial lift device in response to pressure data received from said pressure sensor. 
 
   
   
     11. The artificial lift device according to  claim 8  further comprising:
 a hydraulic communication line in communication with said second artificial lift device. 
 
   
   
     12. The artificial lift assembly according to  claim 8  further comprising:
 a junction in communication with said tubing string; and wherein 
 said first artificial lift device is in communication with said junction; and 
 said second artificial lift device is in communication with said junction. 
 
   
   
     13. The artificial lift assembly according to  claim 8  wherein:
 said second artificial lift device is located below said first artificial lift device; and 
 further comprising a shroud that surrounds said first artificial lift device. 
 
   
   
     14. A method of protecting an idle artificial lift device from well fluids comprising:
 simultaneously deploying a first artificial lift device and a second artificial lift device within a wellbore; 
 providing a barrier to prevent well fluid from filling said second artificial lift 
 device by applying an intake barrier to an intake of second said artificial lift device to prevent well fluid migration through said intake of said second artificial lift device; and 
 submerging said first artificial lift device with said second artificial lift device in well fluid. 
 
   
   
     15. The method according to  claim 14  wherein said step of providing a barrier comprises:
 applying an output barrier to a discharge port of said second artificial lift device to prevent well fluid migration into said second artificial lift device. 
 
   
   
     16. The method according to  claim 14  wherein said step of providing a barrier comprises:
 applying an output barrier to an output passageway in communication with said second artificial lift device. 
 
   
   
     17. The method according to  claim 14  further comprising a step of filling said second artificial lift device with a protective fluid. 
   
   
     18. The method according to  claim 17  further comprising a step of flushing said second artificial lift device with protective fluid. 
   
   
     19. The method according to  claim 17  wherein:
 said barrier is an intake barrier; and 
 said protective fluid has a higher specific gravity than well fluid. 
 
   
   
     20. The method according to  claim 17  wherein:
 said barrier is an output barrier; and 
 said protective fluid has a lower specific gravity than well fluid. 
 
   
   
     21. The method according to  claim 17  wherein:
 said step of filling said second artificial lift device comprises locating said protective fluid within said second artificial lift device prior to said step of deploying said artificial lift devices within the wellbore. 
 
   
   
     22. The method according to  claim 17  wherein:
 said step of filling said second artificial lift device comprises locating said protective fluid within said second artificial lift device after said step of deploying said artificial lift devices within the wellbore. 
 
   
   
     23. The method according to  claim 14  further comprising:
 connecting a hydraulic communication line to said second artificial lift device. 
 
   
   
     24. The method according to  claim 23  further comprising the step of:
 periodically maintaining a pressure in said second artificial lift device that is at least equal to pressure external of said second artificial lift device, said pressure in said second artificial lift device maintained via said hydraulic communication line. 
 
   
   
     25. The method according to  claim 14  further comprising a step of:
 applying additional pressure to an interior of said artificial lift device to push out said barrier. 
 
   
   
     26. The method according to  claim 14  further comprising a step of:
 locating a solvent in said artificial lift device to remove said barrier. 
 
   
   
     27. The method according to  claim 14  wherein:
 said step of applying an intake baffler comprises covering said intake with a selectively openable member activated via a communication line. 
 
   
   
     28. The method according to  claim 14  wherein:
 said step of providing a barrier comprises biasing a member into sealing engagement with an area proximate an intake of said second artificial lift device. 
 
   
   
     29. The method according to  claim 14  wherein said step of deploying a first artificial lift device and a second artificial lift device further comprises deploying a shroud surrounding at least one of said first artificial lift device and said second artificial lift device.